Synopsis
IES Abroad launched OpportunitIES in Motion, a $20M, five-year scholarship initiative to expand study abroad access for students with financial needs. The program boosts equitable education and career readiness across 140+ programs in 30+ global spots through donor partnerships and academic innovation.
IES Abroad has announced the launch of OpportunitIES in Motion, a five-year $20 million scholarship initiative aimed at expanding access to study abroad opportunities for students worldwide, particularly those facing financial constraints and limited access to international learning experiences and advancing equitable access to higher education pathways globally.
The initiative focuses on increasing scholarship funding and reducing financial barriers that prevent students from participating in international education programs, while also strengthening program innovation, donor engagement, and long-term sustainability within the organization’s global learning ecosystem through collaborative partnerships with institutions and donors.
It positions global education as a core academic pathway rather than an optional experience for higher education learners, emphasizing equitable access, cross-cultural learning, and career readiness in an increasingly interconnected world shaped by global mobility and international collaboration.
Early leadership support for the initiative includes a major commitment from Richard Landers, an alumnus of IES Abroad Vienna, who has pledged $2 million over five years to strengthen scholarships and drive academic innovation across programs such as Global Pillars courses and the Global Institute. According to CEO and President Gregory D. Hess, the organization awarded a record $7.9 million in scholarships and aid in the 2025-26 academic year, significantly increasing access for Pell Grant-eligible students and expanding participation across diverse student populations.
This momentum builds on the success of the fifth annual Giving Day, which raised $384,453 with strong participation from alumni, institutional partners, and donors committed to expanding educational opportunity and reinforcing a community-wide effort that supports long-term access to global learning opportunities for future generations of students.
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As international education costs continue to rise, the initiative highlights the importance of sustained human capital investment and equitable access to overseas learning experiences as institutions seek to close opportunity gaps and prepare students for globally connected careers. Additional philanthropic support includes a $100,000 gift to the Charles Merrill Jr Scholarship, designed to expand access for students at Spelman College and Morehouse College, two historically Black institutions.
This funding honors the legacy of educator and civil rights activist Charles E. Merrill, who founded the Merrill Scholars program, which provided full-year international study opportunities to HBCU students from the 1950s through the 1980s while also emphasizing the long-term impact of inclusive education pathways on leadership development, civic engagement, and global workforce readiness and reflects ongoing collaboration between higher education partners and philanthropic organizations.
Key focus areas of the initiative include expanding scholarship expansion, strengthening academic pathways in STEM sustainability, and improving global access infrastructure across partner institutions worldwide while aligning with evolving workforce demands and global education priorities and strengthening institutional resilience globally for future learners.
Participants will gain access to a wide international program network spanning more than 140 programs in over 30 global locations, including cities such as Cape Town, Madrid, Sydney, and Tokyo and supporting equitable participation for students from diverse socioeconomic backgrounds across regions.
Research on outcomes consistently shows improved academic performance, personal growth, and stronger employability for participants, reinforcing the value of career readiness outcomes and long-term global engagement for graduates as universities and partners continue to invest in scalable learning models and international collaboration opportunities access.
